10-Day England and Ireland Itinerary: London, York, Liverpool & Dublin

When we started planning our 10-year anniversary trip, we knew we wanted to see the major highlights of London and Dublin. Everything in between came together as we tried to fit as much as possible into the limited time we had childcare.

After exploring different routes, I found York. The more photos and videos I saw of its medieval streets, old city walls, and historic buildings, the more obsessed I became with including it. My husband liked the idea of Liverpool because of its music history, and geographically, it worked well before taking a short flight to Dublin. That gave us our final route: four nights in London, two nights in York, one night in Liverpool, and three nights based in Dublin.

This itinerary allowed us to experience four remarkably different cities in 10 nights, traveling through England by train and then flying from Liverpool to Dublin. It also gave us opportunities to leave the cities behind for the mountains of Glendalough and the coastal cliffs of Howth.

But this trip was about more than seeing Europe. Since having children eight years earlier, we had taken only one trip longer than four nights without them. We love traveling together, but uninterrupted time as a couple had become increasingly rare. For our anniversary, we wanted time to reconnect, reduce some of the stress of everyday life, and simply enjoy each other’s company somewhere new.

And that is exactly what this trip gave us. We walked 29 miles through London, fell completely in love with York, learned more Beatles history than I expected to enjoy, made our own sterling-silver anniversary rings in Dublin, and got slightly lost while hiking the Howth cliffs.

We also learned that we had planned too much for the time available. I would follow this route again, but if childcare and time allowed, I would add another night in London, another night in York, reduce Dublin to one or two days, and spend three or four days exploring Ireland’s western coast.

This is not an itinerary I would personally attempt with small children. It is best suited to couples, friends, or independent adult travelers who enjoy walking, moving quickly, and leaving room for spontaneous discoveries. If you can add even a few more days, do it. Our biggest takeaway was that every destination deserved more time. Below, I’m sharing our complete route—including where we stayed, how we traveled between cities, what we did each day, what surprised us, and exactly what we would change.

Route at a Glance

Day	Overnight	Main experiences
Travel night	Flight	Chicago → Zurich → London in Swiss business class
Day 1	London	Arrive at Heathrow • Private hotel transfer • First London pub • Early bedtime
Day 2	London	Big Ben • The Queen’s Walk • Afternoon tea • Arsenal match
Day 3	London	Borough Market • HMS Belfast • Tower Bridge • Tower of London • F1 Arcade
Day 4	London	Buckingham Palace • Westminster Abbey • Notting Hill • Abbey Road
Day 5	York	Train from King’s Cross • The Shambles • York Castle Museum • Riverside drinks
Day 6	York	Self-guided history tour • Roman ruins • York’s city walls • Monk Bar
Day 7	Liverpool	Train to Liverpool • Beatles Museum • City bus tour • Cavern Club
Day 8	Dublin	Fly to Dublin • Make our anniversary rings • Check into Hyatt Centric
Day 9	Dublin	Dublin bus tour • Brannigan’s • Glendalough • Wicklow Mountains
Day 10	Dublin	Deer Park Golf • Howth village • Cliff hike • Sophie’s Rooftop
Departure	Home	Dublin → Amsterdam → Chicago in KLM business class

Where We Stayed During Our England and Ireland Trip

We stayed in four very different hotels during this trip. London and York felt luxurious and memorable in completely different ways, Liverpool was a practical one-night stop, and Dublin gave us a modern, well-located base for exploring the city and taking day trips.

Destination	Hotel	Nights	How we booked
London	Great Scotland Yard Hotel	4 nights	100,000 World of Hyatt points
York	The Grand York	2 nights	57,588 Capital One miles + $153.46
Liverpool	Aloft Liverpool	1 night	28,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Dublin	Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin	3 nights	$1,055.68 charge erased with 105,568 Capital One miles

After points and purchase-erasing miles, our hotel out-of-pocket cost was approximately $153.46.

See our complete England and Ireland points-and-miles breakdown

Great Scotland Yard Hotel: Four Nights in London

Great Scotland Yard Hotel was the perfect introduction to this anniversary trip. The hotel is full of character and history, but it also feels genuinely luxurious. From the moment we arrived, the service was incredible. We were able to check in immediately after our overnight flight, which felt especially valuable after being awake for more than 31 hours.

Our room was beautiful but compact. That didn’t bother us because we expected less space in a historic central London hotel, and we spent most of our time exploring the city. The location was one of its greatest strengths. We could walk to Whitehall, Big Ben, the Thames, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and several Tube stations. It also made wandering without a detailed plan incredibly easy.

The hotel offered memorable experiences beyond the room, including our slightly awkward but very fun afternoon tea at The Parlour. It also arranged the private luxury transfer that made our arrival significantly easier.

What to know:

The rooms can feel compact.
This is a luxury hotel, so food, transfers, and other extras can be expensive.
Its location was more important to us than having a large room.

Would we stay again? Absolutely.

Check current rates for Great Scotland Yard Hotel

The Grand York: Two Nights in York

The Grand York was my favorite hotel room of the trip. After our compact London room, walking into this space felt dramatic. The ceilings were incredibly high, the windows were enormous, and the bathroom was massive. The entire room felt genuinely grand.

The hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from York railway station, which made arriving with our carry-on luggage incredibly easy. We were also able to check in immediately. Our reservation included breakfast, and it was fabulous. Starting each morning with a full hotel breakfast allowed us to head directly into York without searching for somewhere to eat first. The hotel was close enough to walk throughout York’s historic center, but it also felt calm and removed when we returned at night.

What to know:

Two nights weren’t enough for us—not because of the hotel, but because we wanted more time in York.
Confirm whether breakfast is included with your specific rate.

Would we stay again? Yes—and next time, I would stay longer.

Check current rates for The Grand York.

Aloft Liverpool: One Night in Liverpool

Aloft Liverpool worked well for what we needed: a practical, centrally located hotel for one night. The guest room felt like a fairly standard budget-friendly hotel room, especially compared with our stays in London and York. The building itself, however, was beautiful and gave the property far more character than the room alone.

We arrived before check-in, but the hotel stored our carry-on bags so we could begin exploring immediately. With only one day in Liverpool, that mattered. We took a cab from Liverpool Lime Street to the hotel and then explored much of central Liverpool on foot.

Would we stay again? Yes, for another short Liverpool visit.

Check current rates for Aloft Liverpool.

Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin: Three Nights in Dublin

Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin was a modern and practical base for our three nights in Ireland. The room was a good size and everything felt clean and contemporary. I would have loved more distinctly Irish character, but the hotel made up for that with comfort, location, and affordability. We could walk to restaurants and central Dublin, and it was easy to arrange cabs for the airport, our activities, and Howth.

What to know:

It felt modern rather than distinctly Irish.
Check whether breakfast is included with the rate you select.
Travelers seeking an atmospheric historic hotel may prefer another property.

Would we stay again? Yes, for its comfort and convenience—although on a future Ireland trip, I would spend fewer nights in Dublin and more time along the western coast.

Check current rates for Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin.

Our Complete 10-Night England and Ireland Itinerary

This itinerary covers our travel night followed by 10 nights in Europe. We moved quickly, walked extensively, and left plenty of room for spontaneous stops. Each day below includes what we actually did, what surprised us, and what we would change.

This trip really started with packing.
Because we would be visiting four cities and traveling by train and plane, we intentionally decided to pack carry-on only. We each brought one carry-on suitcase and one backpack—and somehow managed to fit everything we needed for 10 nights inside them.
Traveling during the summer definitely helped because most of our clothing was lightweight. Packing for this same itinerary during the winter would have been an entirely different story.
I’ll eventually share exactly how we packed for 10 nights in a separate post, but for this route, traveling without checked luggage made moving between cities significantly easier.
How We Packed Carry-On Only for 10 Nights in Europe (Coming Soon…)
Starting Our Trip at O’Hare
We arrived at Chicago O’Hare around 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4, for our 7:00 p.m. flight.
After checking in, we went to the LOT Polish Airlines Business Lounge. We found seats beside the floor-to-ceiling windows, ordered cocktails, and enjoyed the food while watching planes come and go.
It was the perfect way to officially begin our 10-year anniversary trip.
Our First Business-Class Flight
When we stepped onto our Swiss International Air Lines flight, we immediately realized we were in for a treat.
Neither of us had ever flown business class before. We honestly couldn’t wrap our minds around the amount of space we had, the fact that our seats turned into beds, or the level of service.
We were welcomed with champagne, followed by what felt like a nonstop supply of food and drinks throughout the flight.
It was an incredible experience, but I learned one unexpected lesson: sitting relatively still while being offered that much food left me feeling incredibly full and uncomfortable by the end of the flight.
I had intentionally booked an overnight flight because I imagined we would use the lie-flat seats, sleep our way across the Atlantic, and arrive feeling rested.
Unfortunately, I also learned that apparently, I cannot sleep on an airplane—even when I am completely horizontal and have taken melatonin.
My husband managed to sleep for a few hours, but neither of us arrived feeling particularly rested. I still felt much better than I would have in economy, and I would absolutely choose business class again whenever we can make it work with points.
The magical full night of sleep I had pictured just didn’t happen.
Connecting Through Zurich
We landed in Zurich at 10:50 a.m. local time and departed for London at 12:05 p.m.
Our short flight arrived at London Heathrow at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5.
Because we had packed carry-on only, we could leave the airport without waiting at baggage claim.
See exactly how we booked our business-class flights and hotels with points and miles.
Travel-Night Takeaways
- Carry-on-only packing made the airport and every later transfer easier.
- Lie-flat seats do not guarantee a full night of sleep.
- Avoid overindulging simply because business-class food and drinks are continuously offered.
- A short connection worked for this flight, but we would leave more connection time when possible.
- Business class was absolutely worth using points for, even though I couldn’t sleep.
After arriving at London Heathrow, we converted a small amount of money, found our driver, and headed directly to Great Scotland Yard Hotel.
Our First Luxury Airport Transfer
We had arranged a private Mercedes transfer through Great Scotland Yard Hotel.
This was certainly not our normal travel style, but we knew we would be exhausted. The thought of landing in a new country and immediately needing to understand the train system while carrying our luggage felt overwhelming.
We decided this was one place where making life easier was worth the splurge—and we would absolutely do it again.
My husband loves talking with locals and asking questions about the places we visit. Our driver, however, appeared to have been trained not to initiate or encourage conversation.
My husband kept trying to chat while the driver maintained a very professional silence, creating a slightly awkward—and very funny—start to our time in England.
Checking Into Great Scotland Yard Hotel
From the moment we entered Great Scotland Yard Hotel, it felt special.
The hotel was beautiful, the service was amazing, and we were able to check into our room immediately.
As tempting as it was to fall directly into bed, we knew that would probably make the jet lag worse. Our only real goal for the afternoon was to stay awake until 8:00 p.m. London time.
Our First London Pub and Dinner
We left the hotel, found a pub for our first pint, and began wandering through the surrounding streets.
I was so tired that I honestly couldn’t tell you which landmarks we passed. I mostly remember admiring the architecture and making sure that, in our sleep-deprived zombie state, we didn’t step into traffic while we were still adjusting to vehicles approaching from a different direction than we were used to.
Eventually, we landed at The Ship & Shovell for dinner before returning to the hotel and crashing at exactly 8:00 p.m.
That was 2:00 p.m. back home in Wisconsin—and 31½ hours after we had woken up on Monday morning.
My husband had slept for a few hours during the flight, while I had gotten little to no sleep. Making it until 8:00 felt like an accomplishment in itself.
It wasn’t the most ambitious first day in London, but that was intentional. We gave ourselves permission to do very little, get oriented, and recover before beginning our first full day in the city.
Day 1 Takeaways
- Avoid scheduling important timed attractions on your arrival day.
- Arrange airport transportation in advance if you expect to arrive exhausted.
- Ask your hotel about early check-in, but don’t rely on it being available.
- Packing carry-on only allowed us to leave Heathrow quickly.
- Choose a realistic local bedtime and do your best to stay awake until then.
- Keep the first afternoon flexible enough that exhaustion won’t ruin your plans.
Read Our Complete Four-Day London Itinerary (Coming Soon)
After sleeping for nearly 12 hours, we woke around 8:00 a.m. feeling like entirely different people.
We began the morning at Breadline Café, where we ate breakfast at a small table outside. Sitting there with our coffee and watching London come alive was the perfect introduction to our first full day in the city.
From breakfast, we walked down Whitehall toward Bridge Street. This brought us to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament before we crossed Westminster Bridge to join the Queen’s Walk along the River Thames.
Seeing Big Ben was one of those surreal travel moments for me. I had seen it in photographs and movies for years, but standing in front of it finally made me feel like we were really in London.
We followed the Queen’s Walk toward Waterloo Bridge, taking in the riverfront and the landmarks along the way. We did not ride the London Eye, but we actually loved seeing it from across the river after crossing Waterloo Bridge. We eventually stopped to rest in Victoria Embankment Gardens before returning to our hotel.
By that point, we had already covered a substantial amount of London on foot—and the day was far from over.
Our First Afternoon Tea
That afternoon, we had a reservation for afternoon tea at The Parlour inside the Great Scotland Yard Hotel.
Afternoon tea felt like one of those quintessential London experiences we needed to try at least once. It was also much more formal than either of us naturally is. My husband does not remotely drink tea, and neither of us really understood how we were supposed to order everything. We felt slightly out of place, which made the entire experience a little awkward and very funny.
Thankfully, we were able to laugh at ourselves and enjoy it. The sandwiches, scones and pastries became our light lunch, and the experience gave us a chance to slow down before heading back across the city.
If afternoon tea is important to you, I recommend reserving it in advance.
Navigating the London Underground
That afternoon was also our first time using the Tube. Someone at our hotel recommended Citymapper, the app Londoners use to enter their starting point and destination and see the fastest available route.
I could not believe how easy it made everything. We walked to one of the nearby stations, connected with the Piccadilly line and took it to Arsenal station for the match. Citymapper told us which train to take, where to transfer when necessary and which stop to use. We relied on it throughout our time in London and never got lost.
Coming from an area without a comparable public transportation system, I was amazed by how efficiently we could travel across such a large city.
Arsenal vs. Villarreal at Emirates Stadium
My husband is not specifically an Arsenal supporter, but he is a sports fan and enjoys attending games when we travel. I am not much of a sports person at all, although I can usually have fun at any live event because I love the atmosphere.
Even so, I did not expect the Arsenal match to become my favorite part of the day. Arsenal played Villarreal in a preseason match at Emirates Stadium and lost 3–2. We had a beer in the designated concourse area before taking our seats because, unlike the sporting events we were accustomed to attending in the United States, we learned that drinks could not be carried into the seating area. We ate sausages from the stadium stands for dinner.
Once the match began, I was completely pulled into the experience. Chanting “Arsenal” with thousands of other people, feeling the energy inside the stadium and being welcomed into their community for the evening was so much fun. Soccer may now be my favorite sport to watch live, and I would love to bring our children back for a match someday.
By the end of the day, we had walked approximately 10 miles. The walking shoes I wore throughout this trip were genuinely one of the most important things I packed. If you’re looking for a classic pair of white tennis shoes to go with any outfit, check them out here.
What I Would Change
If we had added another day in London, I would have made time to ride the London Eye. We could see it during our walk, but we felt overwhelmed by everything we were trying to fit into such a short visit.
That became a recurring lesson during this trip: technically being able to fit something into the schedule does not always mean there is enough time to enjoy it.
Read our complete four-day London itinerary — coming soon.
Our third day began with a walk to Terry’s Café for a traditional English breakfast. I had read that this small, family-run café was one of the best places to try an authentic English breakfast, and it ended up being the best one we had during the trip.
We both ordered the standard English breakfast and loved it. Terry’s is tucked into a quieter neighborhood away from the busiest tourist areas, which made the experience feel even more local.
What we had not realized was that the café was approximately two miles from our hotel. Had we understood that before setting out, we definitely would have found coffee first.
Southwark Cathedral and Borough Market
After breakfast, we continued toward Southwark Cathedral and then Borough Market.
Borough Market had been high on our list, but by the time we arrived it was already extremely crowded. The lines were long, and we did not have enough time to wander slowly, taste different foods and enjoy the market the way I had imagined.
If I planned this day again, I would arrive at Borough Market earlier and build in more time for it. We eventually picked up lunch from an outdoor food stand later in the day rather than waiting in the market’s longest lines.
Discovering Hay’s Galleria
One of the best parts of traveling without every minute planned is stumbling across places we knew nothing about. For us, one of those places was Hay’s Galleria.
The covered riverside space was once part of Hay’s Wharf, an important 19th-century trading wharf where goods such as tea and other dry products arrived in London. The former warehouses were later redeveloped around a glass-covered central walkway.
We had not planned to visit it, which made walking into it even more memorable.
Exploring HMS Belfast
We continued along the river to HMS Belfast, a historic Royal Navy warship permanently moored on the Thames. The ship served during World War II, including the Arctic convoys and the D-Day campaign.
I had been most excited to visit the Tower of London that day, but HMS Belfast became my favorite experience.
We were able to explore the different decks and see the areas where sailors worked, ate and slept. Moving through the narrow passageways and climbing between levels made its history feel far more tangible than it would have from simply looking at the ship from shore.
I am not generally someone who loves museums, but this felt completely different. It was immersive, unexpected and genuinely fascinating.
Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
From HMS Belfast, we continued along the Queen’s Walk, ate lunch from an outdoor food stand and crossed Tower Bridge.
We then visited the Tower of London and viewed the Crown Jewels. I know the Crown Jewels are a major attraction for many visitors, but this was one experience I found slightly overrated. The viewing area was crowded, and elaborate jewelry simply is not something that excites me very much.
That is obviously a personal preference—the collection is historically significant—but it was a good reminder that the attraction everyone says you must see may not become your favorite part of a destination.
We ate dinner from a food truck outside the Tower of London before taking the Tube to our final stop.
An Evening at F1 Arcade
My husband is an avid Formula 1 fan, so visiting F1 Arcade London was high on his list. The venue combines a bar and restaurant with Formula 1 racing simulators, and it was unlike anywhere I had visited before.
He raced while I relaxed, watched and took in the atmosphere. I did not try the simulators myself, but I still enjoyed seeing him do something connected to one of his biggest interests.
That balance is something we try to create when traveling together. Not every activity needs to be equally important to both of us. Sometimes the fun is simply seeing the other person excited about an experience.
A Completely Unplanned London Day
Almost none of this day was carefully planned. We often travel spontaneously, choosing a general direction and allowing one stop to lead us to the next. That freedom brought us to Hay’s Galleria and HMS Belfast, two experiences we might otherwise have missed.
The tradeoff was that we walked another approximately 10 miles. By the end of the day, we were tired and had spent more time moving between attractions than necessary.
If you want to recreate this itinerary, I recommend using the Tube more strategically—especially between the attractions that are farther apart. The route is possible on foot, but walking less would leave more time for Borough Market and the places that interest you most.
Read our complete four-day London itinerary — coming soon.
Our final full day in London began with breakfast at St James’s Café inside St James’s Park. From there, we started walking toward Buckingham Palace—one of the landmarks I had been most excited to see.
On the way, we unexpectedly came across guards training outside the Guards Museum. This was not something we had planned, and it ended up being far more interesting than I expected. Watching them train offered a brief glimpse into a life and tradition completely different from ours.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace itself was honestly a little underwhelming for me.
I had imagined more elaborate landscaping around the palace, but what we could see was mostly gravel, crowds and the building from a distance. With so many people gathered outside, it was difficult to get remotely close.
I am still glad we saw it, and I enjoyed learning more about the monarchy while we were in London. However, the unplanned opportunity to watch the guards train was more memorable than seeing the palace itself.
This was another reminder that the most famous landmark is not always the best part of the day.
Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey
From Buckingham Palace, we continued walking to Westminster Cathedral and then Westminster Abbey.
It is easy to confuse the two, but they are separate places. Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral, while Westminster Abbey is the historic coronation church associated with the British monarchy.
Westminster Abbey was the only experience we had reserved in advance that day. The Abbey has been used for coronations since 1066 and is also the burial place of numerous monarchs and other notable figures.
After several days of walking past London’s history, entering Westminster Abbey gave us an opportunity to slow down and take in more of it.
Notting Hill
After leaving the Westminster area, we used the Tube to travel to Notting Hill.
We did not have a specific tour or activity planned there. We mostly wanted to say we had seen the neighborhood and walk past some of its famous colorful houses.
Notting Hill was enjoyable to explore, but because we were fitting so much into one day, our visit was brief. With more time, this is another part of London I would have enjoyed experiencing at a slower pace.
Recreating the Abbey Road Album Cover
Our next stop was the Abbey Road crosswalk, where we took turns attempting to recreate the Beatles’ famous album-cover photograph.
This may sound like a silly thing to call a trip highlight, but it was my favorite part of the day.
There was something so funny about standing with a group of equally awkward tourists, attempting to time photographs between passing cars while everyone waited for a turn to walk across an otherwise ordinary street. It was not polished or particularly graceful, but we laughed through the entire experience.
Korean Barbecue Near Piccadilly Circus
After returning to central London, we had dinner at YORI Piccadilly Circus, a Korean barbecue restaurant within walking distance of our hotel.
By that point, we were exhausted. We had walked approximately eight miles that day, bringing our total to around 29 miles during our time in London.
We loved seeing so much of the city on foot because it allowed us to notice the streets, architecture and everyday details we would have missed underground. However, our pace was intense. One additional day would have allowed us to spread out these stops and enjoy each neighborhood more slowly.
My other London regret is not seeing a West End show. That would absolutely be on my list for a return trip.
Read our complete four-day London itinerary — coming soon.
We checked out of the Great Scotland Yard Hotel early and made our way to King’s Cross Station for our approximately 8:30 a.m. train to York. We ate breakfast at the station before boarding.
This was our first experience traveling between European cities by train, so I had purchased our tickets before we ever left for the trip. I later learned that booking as early as I did was not strictly necessary, but having the transportation secured made me feel better—especially on our first multi-city train trip.
The journey took approximately two and a half hours. Compared with flying, the process felt remarkably simple: we arrived at the station, boarded with our carry-on luggage and traveled directly from central London to central York.
Packing carry-on only made this part of the trip significantly easier. We each had one carry-on suitcase and one backpack, so we were not trying to maneuver large bags through the station or onto the train.
Arriving at The Grand York
York’s train station is extremely close to The Grand York, and we were able to walk to the hotel in less than 10 minutes. Once again, we were fortunate to be allowed into our room immediately.
The contrast between our two hotels was striking.
Great Scotland Yard had incredible character, luxury and service, but—as is common in London—our room was compact. Our room at The Grand felt enormous by comparison, with very high ceilings, large windows and a massive bathroom. Our reservation also included an excellent breakfast each morning.
Of all the rooms we stayed in during this trip, this was my favorite.
Our First Walk Through York
After checking in, we did not follow a detailed schedule. We simply left the hotel and began walking.
I had become obsessed with York while planning this trip after seeing photographs and videos of its historic streets. Still, I was not prepared for how immediately I would fall in love with it.
York was founded by the Romans in AD 71, later became the Viking city of Jorvik and eventually developed into the medieval city whose walls, gates and narrow streets remain visible today. That layered history made it feel completely different from London.
Walking through the center felt like stepping back in time—or into a place that should not still be real.
We stopped at a pub for lunch and a pint before walking down the Shambles, York’s famous narrow shopping street. With its overhanging timber-framed buildings and tightly packed storefronts, it was one of the places I had most wanted to see.
Drinks Inside York’s Historic Bridge Towers
We later stopped for a cocktail at The Quirky Café & Bar at Lendal Bridge. The narrow, multi-level space retained the character of the old stone building, including a lower level that felt almost dungeon-like and an outdoor area beside the river.
Across the bridge sits the Perky Peacock. The two historic bridge towers once stood on opposite sides of the River Ouse, where a chain could be stretched across the water to control river traffic and collect tolls.
We would return to the Perky Peacock the following morning, but on this first afternoon, The Quirky Café & Bar was another unexpected place that made York feel so unlike anywhere else we visited.
York Castle Museum and the Former Prisons
We also explored York Castle Museum, which incorporates historic prison buildings, including the former Debtors’ Prison and Female Prison.
Walking through those spaces added another layer to the city’s history. York did not feel like a collection of isolated attractions; its past seemed built directly into the streets and buildings around us.
I do not remember where we ate dinner that evening, so I will not attempt to fill in that detail. What I remember most clearly is continuing to walk through the old streets and feeling completely captivated by the city.
Our First Impression of York
London had been exciting, busy and filled with landmarks we had known about for years. York felt more intimate and surprising. We could walk everywhere, turn down unfamiliar streets and continually find another historic building, pub or hidden corner.
By the end of our first afternoon, it had already become my favorite city of the trip.
Read our complete two-day York itinerary — coming soon.
We began our second morning in York with another fabulous breakfast at The Grand York before walking to the Perky Peacock for coffee.
From there, we began a self-guided audio walking tour from Tripadvisor.
Why We Chose a Self-Guided Tour
This ended up being one of the best choices we made in York.
We enjoy independent travel and do not always want to follow a guide or remain with a group. The audio tour gave us the historical context we wanted while allowing us to explore at our own pace. We could pause whenever we found something interesting, stop for food or drinks and spend more time in the places we enjoyed most.
If that sounds like your preferred travel style, I highly recommend downloading a tour before you begin exploring.
Link to the exact self-guided York audio tour here.
St Mary’s Abbey and the Multangular Tower
Our route took us through York Museum Gardens, where we saw the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey.
Although York has extensive Roman history, St Mary’s Abbey was not built by the Romans. It was a Benedictine monastery first constructed in 1088 and eventually became one of the wealthiest monasteries in England. The ruins visible today date to York’s medieval history.
Nearby, we saw the Multangular Tower. This is one of York’s best surviving examples of Roman construction. The lower section dates to approximately the early third century, while the upper portion was rebuilt during the medieval period. Seeing both eras within one structure helped us understand how many layers of history exist throughout the city.
Walking York’s City Walls
One of my favorite parts of the entire tour was walking along York’s historic city walls.
The elevated route gave us a different view of the city and made the history feel much more tangible. Instead of simply reading about York’s defenses, we were walking along part of them.
We also explored Monks Bar, one of York’s medieval gateways. Walking down the narrow stairs inside the old gate was a highlight for me. These are the kinds of historic details that made York feel less like a modern city with a few old buildings and more like a place where the past is still woven into everyday life.
York Minster, Treasurer’s House and the Golden Fleece
Other stops along our tour included Treasurer’s House and York Minster. We admired York Minster as part of our walking route but did not build a separate ticketed visit into this day.
We also had a drink at the Golden Fleece, a pub dating to the early 16th century that is surrounded by local ghost stories. It is frequently described as one of York’s most haunted pubs.
Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate and the Shambles
The walking tour also brought us to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, one of York’s shortest streets and certainly one of its most unusually named.
We returned to the Shambles as well for some casual shopping. Several shops in this area lean heavily into Harry Potter-inspired merchandise. We are not particularly interested in Harry Potter, but they were fun to see.
The Attractions We Missed
We did not purchase advance admission for York’s major museums, and several had long lines or limited availability by the time we arrived.
Popular ticketed attractions include:
- JORVIK Viking Centre
- York Castle Museum
- Yorkshire Museum
- York Minster
- York’s Chocolate Story
- The York Dungeon
I had not prepared for how busy York’s museums could be. If one is a priority for you, reserve it rather than assuming you can walk in.
Despite missing some of the museums, I would not change the way we spent this day. The audio tour taught us an incredible amount about York while allowing us to experience the city itself.
Why Two Nights Were Not Enough
We walked everywhere during our two days in York and never needed to leave its historic center. Even within that compact area, we felt like we had barely scratched the surface.
I would happily return for at least four nights, giving us three full days to walk more of the walls, visit the museums we missed and enjoy the old streets without watching the clock.
There was not one single attraction that made York special to me. I loved the entire experience of being there.
Read our complete two-day York itinerary — coming soon.
We ate breakfast at The Grand York one final time before checking out and walking back to York’s train station.
Our TransPennine Express train departed at approximately 8:00 a.m. for Liverpool Lime Street. I had reserved these tickets in advance at the same time as our London-to-York journey.
Checking In at Aloft Liverpool
After arriving at Liverpool Lime Street, we took a cab to Aloft Liverpool.
Our room was not ready, so we left our carry-on bags with the hotel and immediately began exploring.
Aloft was a practical choice for such a short stay. The room itself felt like a fairly standard hotel room, but the hotel was housed within a beautiful historic building that gave the common areas much more character.
A Completely Different Side of England
After visiting London and York, I could not believe how different Liverpool felt from both.
The architecture changed. The accents and way people spoke changed. The atmosphere changed. These three cities were within the same country, yet each one felt completely distinct.
Liverpool’s identity as both a port city and a music city was immediately noticeable. We began walking through the city and toward its waterfront, fitting in as much as possible before leaving for Dublin the following morning.
Liverpool Beatles Museum
We visited the Liverpool Beatles Museum on Mathew Street.
I am not what I would call a true Beatles fan, but I enjoyed the museum much more than I expected. Learning about the band’s beginnings in Liverpool gave context to many of the places we saw around the city.
Be aware that this is the Liverpool Beatles Museum, not The Beatles Story at the waterfront. They are two separate attractions.
Museum of Liverpool
We also stopped briefly at the Museum of Liverpool.
General admission to the venues operated by National Museums Liverpool is free, although certain exhibitions or events may charge separately. That makes it easy to step inside and decide whether a museum fits your interests without feeling obligated to stay because you purchased an expensive ticket.
Seeing Liverpool by Bus
Because our time was so limited, we took a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to see more of Liverpool’s major landmarks and neighborhoods. The bus format worked well for the amount of time we had. It gave us a broader look at Liverpool than we could have managed entirely on foot.
We took the bus tour before returning to Mathew Street for the experience my husband had most wanted from Liverpool.
An Evening at the Cavern Club
The Cavern Club was easily the best part of our day.
Descending into the club and hearing live music in the space so closely connected with Liverpool’s music history was exactly the experience we had hoped for. Even with our short visit, the atmosphere was memorable.
This is one place where I wish we had stayed much later. I would love to return to Liverpool, settle into the Cavern Club and spend more of the evening listening to the music rather than knowing we had an early flight the following morning.
One night gave us an introduction to Liverpool, but it was not enough time to truly understand the city. Still, it worked well as a stop between York and Dublin and gave my husband the music experience he had wanted.
Read our complete one-day Liverpool itinerary — coming soon.
We checked out of Aloft Liverpool early and took a cab to Liverpool John Lennon Airport for our approximately 9:00 a.m. Ryanair flight to Dublin.
The direct flight was short, making Liverpool a practical final stop in England before continuing to Ireland. After landing at Dublin Airport, we took a cab to the Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin.
Our room was not yet ready, so we left our carry-on bags at the hotel and started exploring.
This was not just our first day in Ireland. It was also our actual 10th wedding anniversary.
Making Our Own Sterling-Silver Rings
For our anniversary, I had booked a 2:00 p.m. Airbnb experience called “Forge a Silver Sterling Ring Workshop.”
We worked in a small group of five under the guidance of a local artist. Each of us began with a strip of sterling silver and learned how to cut, shape, join, texture and finish it into a ring.
Neither of us had done anything remotely like this before. It was hands-on, personal and so much more meaningful than simply purchasing anniversary gifts for one another.
The rings we made that afternoon are now the bands we wear to represent our 10th anniversary. Every time I look at mine, I remember sitting together in that small Dublin workshop and creating it ourselves.
This was my favorite experience in Dublin and one of the most meaningful parts of our entire trip.
Link to the exact Airbnb ring-making experience here.
Checking In at Hyatt Centric The Liberties
After finishing our rings, we returned to the Hyatt Centric The Liberties and completed our check-in.
Our room was modern and a good size, especially after our compact room in London. The hotel did not have the traditional Irish character I might have loved, but its location made it easy to reach the places we wanted to visit. It was also one of the more affordable hotel options that fit our plans.
We had initially chosen it with the intention of booking on points. We ultimately paid cash and then used Capital One miles to erase the hotel purchase.
That evening, we were too tired to venture back out for dinner, so we ate at the hotel’s main restaurant. The meal was good, convenient and exactly what we needed after traveling and spending the afternoon making our rings.
Why This Experience Mattered
This entire trip was about reconnecting after 10 years of marriage and eight years of parenting.
We love our children and missed them terribly, but uninterrupted time together had become rare. Making our rings gave us something tangible to represent why we had taken this trip in the first place.
Of everything we could have booked for our anniversary, I cannot imagine a more personal way to have spent that afternoon.
Read our complete three-day Dublin itinerary — coming soon.
By our second day in Dublin, we had already spent more than a week walking through London, York and Liverpool. We were beginning to feel the pace of the trip.
We still wanted to see Dublin’s major landmarks, so we started the morning with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. This gave us an overview of places such as Trinity College, Dublin Castle and the Guinness Storehouse without requiring us to walk across the entire city again.
We used the tour primarily as an introduction to Dublin rather than attempting to enter every attraction. With our limited time, it allowed us to see how the city fit together and identify some of its best-known areas.
Lunch at Brannigan’s
We stopped for lunch at Brannigan’s, a family-run pub located just off O’Connell Street.
After lunch, we left Dublin behind for the afternoon and headed toward the Wicklow Mountains.
Escaping the City for Glendalough
I had booked a bus tour through Viator that took us from Dublin to Glendalough in Wicklow Mountains National Park.
Link to the exact Viator Glendalough and Wicklow tour here.
At this point in the trip, we were tired of walking through busy city streets. We wanted quiet, fresh air and open space, and this tour gave us exactly that without requiring a rental car or taking us too far from Dublin.
The drive allowed us to see more of the Irish countryside before spending several hours walking through the valley.
The Glendalough Monastic Settlement
The trail began near the ruins of Glendalough’s historic monastic settlement and graveyard.
Glendalough is not the remains of an ancient village, as I initially understood it. It was a monastery in the valley during the sixth century. It became an important religious center, and the surviving site includes a round tower, medieval churches, crosses and graves.
Walking through the ruins before continuing toward the lakes made the valley feel even more remote. It was difficult to imagine people building a community and living within that landscape so many centuries ago.
Walking Between the Lower and Upper Lakes
We spent the next few hours walking through the park and seeing both the Lower and Upper Lakes.
After so many days surrounded by buildings and traffic, the quiet felt wonderful. The lakes, wooded paths and surrounding hills gave us the break from city sightseeing that we needed.
My only regret was not knowing that people entered the water at the Upper Lake. I had not brought a swimsuit and watched others enjoying it.
Even without swimming, the afternoon was exactly what we needed. It showed us a quieter and greener side of Ireland without forcing us to sacrifice an entire day to transportation.
Dinner in Temple Bar
After returning to Dublin, we had dinner at Bad Bobs in the Temple Bar neighborhood.
Temple Bar is one of Dublin’s busiest visitor areas. After spending the afternoon in the quiet Wicklow countryside, returning to the energy of central Dublin was quite a contrast.
This was our first dinner away from the hotel after arriving in Ireland. Our final dinner—and my favorite—would come the following night at Sophie’s Rooftop.
Read our complete three-day Dublin itinerary — coming soon.
We began our final full day in Ireland with breakfast at Two Pups Coffee, located near our hotel.
Changing Our Howth Plans
I had originally reserved a guided Howth hiking experience through Airbnb. We ultimately decided to explore independently so my husband would have enough time to golf before our hike.
This made the day work better for both of us. He could experience a golf course in Ireland, and we could hike at our own pace without needing to meet a group at a specific time.
We took an Uber from Dublin to Deer Park Golf, a public golf facility located on the grounds of Howth Castle.
My husband played while I rode along and read a book.
As a working mom, I almost never have uninterrupted time to sit and read at home. Riding along through the course with nowhere else I needed to be felt surprisingly restorative. It may not sound like a major travel experience, but having that quiet time was one of the small luxuries of taking this trip without our children.
Exploring Howth Village
After golf, we continued into Howth Village and ate lunch at the Pier House Restaurant, looking out at the fishing boats. It was quaint and perfect.
Howth is a fishing village on a peninsula just outside Dublin. The harbor was lively, the boats were coming and going, and we even saw seals near the village. They were adorable and an unexpected addition to the afternoon.
From the village, we began our hike toward the Howth cliffs.
Taking the Wrong Trail
Our hike did not begin quite as planned.
At some point, we lost the marked route and started walking uphill through residential streets instead of following the defined cliff trail. The entire stretch was uphill, and I became increasingly disappointed that we were working so hard without seeing any of the dramatic coastal views we had come for.
Eventually, we found the correct path.
We ended up following the more scenic portion on our way back down, which gave us the cliff views we had been missing. The official Howth Cliff Path Loop is a moderate 7.8-kilometer route with approximately 130 meters of ascent. Multiple marked loops exist, so it is worth choosing your route beforehand and paying close attention to the colored trail arrows.
Downloading the route before leaving Dublin would have made our experience much easier.
Finding a Tiny Hidden Beach
The best surprise of the hike was a tiny hidden beach below the cliffs.
Reaching it required descending a very steep path and series of steps. It was not for the faint of heart, but the secluded view at the bottom made the effort worthwhile.
We had unexpected rain at the beginning of the hike, which reinforced how important it is to carry a rain jacket in Ireland even when the forecast looks relatively dry. Layers were equally useful because the temperature changed once we were outside the city and exposed to the wind.
An Accessible Alternative to Ireland’s Western Cliffs
The Howth cliffs do not compare in scale with the dramatic cliffs along Ireland’s western coast, but they gave us a beautiful coastal experience without requiring a three-hour journey across the country.
With only three nights in Dublin, Howth allowed us to see the sea, hike along the cliffs and spend time outside while remaining close to the city.
Other than walking through York, this was my favorite part of the entire trip.
Our Final Dinner at Sophie’s Rooftop
After returning to Dublin, we had our final dinner at Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant at The Dean.
With its rooftop setting, upper-level patio, flowers and views over Dublin, Sophie’s had the atmosphere I had been hoping to find. The food was excellent, and it became my favorite dinner in Ireland.
It was a beautiful way to end our final full day together.
My Honest Impression of Dublin
By the time we arrived, we had already spent more than a week moving through cities and walking long distances. I was tired and craving nature. My original vision for Ireland had also included places such as Dingle and the dramatic western coastline, which our limited schedule could not accommodate.
If I rebuilt this itinerary, I would spend only one or two days seeing Dublin’s main attractions and add three or four days along Ireland’s west coast.
Still, Dublin gave us our anniversary rings, easy access to Glendalough and one of my favorite days of the trip in Howth. I am glad we included it.
Read our complete three-day Dublin itinerary — coming soon.
We left the Hyatt Centric at approximately 6:30 a.m. for our 9:30 a.m. departure from Dublin Airport. We booked an Uber to the airport and began the journey home.
Our return itinerary was:
Dublin → Amsterdam → Chicago O’Hare
We flew KLM business class for the long-haul portion of the journey.
Nearly Missing Our Flight in Amsterdam
Our flight into Amsterdam was delayed enough to make an already short layover feel extremely tight. We rushed through the airport, worried that we might miss our flight to Chicago.
The situation became even more confusing when we were told that “the US wanted extra security on us.” That delayed us further, although we were ultimately allowed to board.
Once on the plane, we finally settled into our seats with champagne and began to relax. Then our names were called over the aircraft’s speaker, asking us to “make our presence known.”
For a brief moment, I was fairly convinced we were being removed from the flight and might be stuck in Amsterdam indefinitely.
I told the crew we were there—and then nothing happened.
Apparently, our boarding passes had not been scanned correctly, and the crew simply needed to confirm that we were on the aircraft. After all that panic, there was no further issue.
KLM Business Class Compared With Swiss
We preferred KLM’s business-class seat to the Swiss business-class product we had flown to Europe.
The KLM cabin felt newer, more private and significantly more comfortable. Since this was a daytime flight, I only napped briefly and spent most of the journey enjoying the space and attentive service.
The food, however, was not as good for us.
The menu included more seafood than my husband prefers, and the alternative available to him was vegetarian. When he attempted to order that option, the crew had already run out. He ended up landing in Chicago hungry, which was disappointing on a business-class flight.
I later learned that KLM allows World Business Class passengers on most intercontinental flights departing Amsterdam to preorder a main course. I will absolutely check the menu and order our meals in advance next time.
Overall, KLM had the superior seat, while Swiss provided the better meal experience on our flights.
Finally Home
We landed at Chicago O’Hare at approximately 3:00 p.m., collected our car and began the drive back to Wisconsin.
This trip had been everything we needed: uninterrupted time together, new experiences and a reminder of how much we still enjoy exploring the world as a couple.
But after 10 nights away, we were so ready to see our babies.
The time alone reminded us how precious our relationship is outside the daily demands of work and parenting. Missing our children just as deeply reminded us how ready we were to return to the life we had stepped away from.
It was an incredible anniversary trip—and coming home to them was the perfect ending.

What We Would Change About This Itinerary

This itinerary allowed us to experience four very different cities in a limited amount of time, but our biggest takeaway was simple: we tried to fit too much into 10 nights. We knew the trip would be fast-paced when we planned it. Our childcare window was limited, and we had to choose between visiting fewer places or accepting that we would not see everything in each destination. We chose the latter. I do not regret the route. London, York, Liverpool and Dublin each contributed something completely different to the trip. However, I would slow it down if we had more time.

I Would Add Another Night in London

We spent four nights in London, but our first was largely devoted to arriving and fighting jet lag. That left us with three full days to see an enormous city. We walked approximately 29 miles during those three days and still missed experiences such as the London Eye and a West End show. One more night would have allowed us to spread out the major landmarks, use the Tube more strategically and enjoy each area without feeling like we were constantly moving to the next stop.

I Would Spend Longer in York

Two nights in York gave us one full day and portions of two travel days. It was enough time to fall completely in love with the city but not enough to explore its museums and historic sites properly. I would happily stay for four nights, giving us three full days in York. That would allow time for a slower walking tour, more of the city walls and advance reservations at places such as the JORVIK Viking Centre.

I Would Keep Liverpool—or Add One More Night

One night in Liverpool worked as an introduction and positioned us well for our flight to Dublin. We saw the Beatles museum, took a sightseeing bus and spent time at the Cavern Club. If the Beatles and Liverpool’s music history are major priorities, add another night. My biggest regret there was not being able to stay longer at the Cavern Club.

I Would Rebuild the Ireland Portion

If I planned the trip again, I would spend only one or two days seeing Dublin’s main attractions and devote another three or four days to Ireland’s western coast. My original vision of Ireland included areas such as Dingle and the dramatic western cliffs. Our limited time made that unrealistic without spending much of the trip in transit.

Glendalough and Howth gave us the nature we were craving, but they also confirmed that we would have preferred more countryside and coastline after visiting three cities in England. This does not mean Dublin is not worth visiting. By the time we arrived, we were simply tired, experiencing city burnout and comparing it with an entirely different version of Ireland that we had imagined.

Our Most Important Planning Lessons

Pack as Lightly as Possible

Traveling with one carry-on suitcase and one backpack each made every transition easier. We did not wait at baggage claim, and we could maneuver through airports, train stations and city streets without dragging multiple large bags behind us.

Summer clothing made carry-on-only packing more achievable. The same strategy would be more difficult during a winter trip requiring heavy coats, boots and thicker layers. I will share exactly how we packed for 10 nights in a separate guide.

[Read our complete carry-on packing guide for 10 nights in Europe — coming soon.]

Build Nature Into a City-Heavy Trip

After London, York, Liverpool and central Dublin, we were ready for quiet. Our time in Glendalough and Howth gave us room to breathe and restored some of our energy. If your itinerary includes several cities, intentionally add a park, coastal hike or countryside day before you reach the point of complete city burnout.

Use Citymapper in London

Citymapper made the London Underground remarkably easy for us to navigate. We entered our location and destination, and the app showed us which route to take. We never felt lost on the Tube. Our mistake was not using it often enough. Walking allowed us to see more of London, but using the Underground between distant attractions would have saved time and energy.

Download Tours and Trail Maps in Advance

Our self-guided York audio tour was perfect for our independent travel style, but downloading it before starting was essential.

We should have used the same preparation in Howth. We took the wrong route and spent part of the hike walking uphill through residential streets rather than beside the cliffs.

Download audio tours, walking routes and offline maps while you have reliable Wi-Fi.

Choose Either Dublin Transit or Rideshares

We purchased Dublin visitor transit cards in advance but ultimately used Uber for nearly all our local transportation after taking a cab from the airport. We were tired and did not want to learn another transportation system for such a short stay. That made Uber the right choice for us, but it also meant the transit cards were largely wasted.

Decide whether you realistically expect to use public transportation before purchasing a pass.

Bring Supportive Shoes, Layers and a Rain Jacket

This was an extremely active itinerary. We walked approximately 29 miles during our three full days in London, explored York entirely on foot and added hikes in Glendalough and Howth.

Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes are essential.

Shop the walking shoes (that go with everything) I wore throughout this trip here.

Ireland’s weather also changed quickly. A lightweight rain jacket and layers were useful even during our relatively dry summer visit.

Consider an Arrival Transfer After an Overnight Flight

Our private transfer from Heathrow was a splurge, but it removed one decision from an exhausting arrival day. After navigating two flights on almost no sleep, we did not need to understand a new train system while carrying our luggage. We would absolutely choose this again after an overnight international flight.

Review Business-Class Meals Before Flying

KLM’s seat was more private and comfortable than the Swiss seat we experienced, but the meal options did not work well for my husband. The vegetarian alternative was unavailable by the time he ordered. I later learned that eligible KLM World Business Class passengers departing Amsterdam can preorder a main course. I will review the menu and reserve our choices in advance next time.

Always confirm the current options inside your specific airline reservation because routes, menus and deadlines can change.

How We Booked This Trip With Points and Miles

Points and miles made it possible for us to fly business class and stay in hotels that would normally have been far beyond our travel budget. We used a combination of United miles, Flying Blue miles, World of Hyatt points, Marriott Bonvoy points and Capital One miles. We also paid cash for certain taxes, fees and transportation. Because the redemption strategy has a different purpose from this itinerary, I created a separate post showing every flight and hotel booking.

See how we booked an approximately $15,000 England and Ireland trip for about $1,500 out of pocket.

Who This Itinerary Will Work Best For

This route is best suited to:

Couples or friends traveling without small children
Adults comfortable with long walking days
Travelers who enjoy a mixture of planned attractions and spontaneous exploring
First-time visitors who want to combine major landmarks with smaller historic cities
Travelers comfortable moving hotels every few nights
Anyone who wants to experience England and Ireland without renting a car

This itinerary may not be the right fit for:

Travelers who prefer a slow pace
Anyone who dislikes changing hotels frequently
Visitors with mobility limitations unless the daily routes are substantially modified
Families with small children following the itinerary exactly as written
Travelers whose main priority is rural or western Ireland

You can absolutely use this route as a starting point and remove activities, add rest days or extend individual destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 nights enough for England and Ireland?

Ten nights is enough to visit London, York, Liverpool and Dublin, but it is not enough to explore each destination deeply.

Our route worked because we accepted a fast pace and prioritized a few experiences in each city. If possible, add at least a few more nights. London and York would each benefit from another night, while Ireland deserves additional time beyond Dublin.

Can you follow this itinerary without renting a car?

Yes. We completed the entire trip without renting a car.

Why did you fly from Liverpool to Dublin instead of taking a ferry?

The short direct flight fit our schedule and allowed us to reach Dublin early enough for our 2:00 p.m. anniversary ring-making experience.

A ferry may appeal to travelers who prefer not to fly, but it would create a different travel day.

Do UK train tickets need to be purchased in advance?

We purchased both intercity train journeys before leaving home because it made us feel more secure on our first train-based trip.

How early you should book depends on the route, ticket type and travel date. Check the official operator’s rules and compare flexible versus advance fares before purchasing.

How much walking does this itinerary require?

This is a walking-intensive itinerary.

We walked approximately 29 miles during our three full days in London. We explored central York entirely on foot, walked around Liverpool and completed outdoor walks in Glendalough and Howth. Modify the route by using the Tube, rideshares and sightseeing buses more often if that amount of walking is uncomfortable.

Is this a good itinerary with young children?

I would not follow this exact itinerary with small children.

The frequent hotel changes, early departures, long walking days and limited downtime would have been too much for our family. A family version would need fewer destinations, shorter sightseeing days and more rest. This trip was intentionally designed as an adults-only anniversary trip. Couples or friends are the best fit for the itinerary as written.

Can you complete this trip with carry-on luggage?

Yes. We each traveled with one carry-on suitcase and one backpack for the entire trip. Lightweight summer clothing made that easier. Packing carry-on only saved time at the airports and made the train journeys and hotel changes far more manageable.

Deer Park Golf Course, Howth, Dublin, Ireland

Was York worth adding between London and Liverpool?

Absolutely. York was my favorite city of the trip. Its Roman, Viking and medieval history created an atmosphere completely different from London. The historic center was easy to explore on foot, and the city worked naturally between London and Liverpool by train. If anything, I wish we had stayed longer.

Was one night in Liverpool enough?

One night was enough to see a few Beatles-related attractions, take a city overview tour and visit the Cavern Club. It was not enough to explore Liverpool deeply. Add another night if its music, museums, architecture or maritime history are major priorities.

Was Dublin worth visiting?

Yes, but I would plan it differently next time. Dublin gave us our meaningful anniversary rings and served as a convenient base for Glendalough and Howth. However, it was our fourth city, and we were experiencing city fatigue by the time we arrived. On a return trip, I would spend one or two days in Dublin before continuing to the Irish countryside and western coast.

What was the best experience of the trip?

It is difficult to choose only one. York was my favorite city, while hiking the Howth cliffs was one of my favorite individual days. Making our anniversary rings was the most meaningful experience, and attending the Arsenal match was the biggest surprise.

Final Thoughts on Our England and Ireland Anniversary Trip

This trip was never only about seeing Big Ben, walking through York or checking another country off a list. We planned it because we needed uninterrupted time together.

Since having children eight years earlier, we had taken only one other trip longer than four nights without them. Between parenting, work and daily responsibilities, it had become easy to focus on everything that needed to be done rather than simply enjoying one another’s company. For 10 nights, we explored new places, laughed when we felt completely out of place at afternoon tea, cheered with Arsenal supporters, walked through medieval gates, made our own anniversary rings and got thoroughly lost on a cliff hike.

We remembered how much we love traveling together. We also missed our children more with every passing day. By the time we landed in Chicago, we were completely ready to return home and hold them. That combination is what made the trip so meaningful. Time away reminded us that nurturing our marriage matters, while missing our children reminded us how much we love the life waiting for us at home.

Would I plan the route differently with more time? Absolutely. I would slow down, stay longer in London and York and see far more of Ireland. Would I take this trip again? Without hesitation.

Continue Planning This Trip

Explore each destination in greater detail:

Read our complete 3-day London itinerary
Read our complete two-day York itinerary
[Read our one-day Liverpool itinerary — coming soon.]
[Read our complete three-day Dublin itinerary — coming soon.]
See how we booked this trip with points and miles
See our carry-on packing list for 10 nights in Europe

If you are planning a similar trip, save this itinerary for later and adjust the pace to fit the way you actually enjoy traveling.

Have a question about our route? Leave it in the comments. Your question may help another traveler planning the same trip.

Affiliate Disclosure

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products and experiences that we personally used or believe would be helpful.

10 Days in England and Ireland Itinerary: London, York, Liverpool & Dublin

Route at a Glance

Where We Stayed During Our England and Ireland Trip